Method of and apparatus for treating shoe parts



P. H. DIXON 2,084,553

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING SHOE PARTS June 22, 1937.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 28, 1936 P. H. DIXON June 22, 1937.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING SHOE PARTS Filed Jan. 28, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 22, 1937 UNITED STATES ass sts PATENT GFFEQE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR TREAT- ING SHOE PARTS Application January 28, 1936, Serial No. 61,202

20 Claims.

This invention relates to methods of and apparatus for treating shoe parts, and is herein disclosed as adapted to tempering and flexing unattached leather soles in process of being prepared for laying. Th invention is predicated upon certain conflicting problems encountered in stock-fitting practices, one of which is concerned with the use of water to temper certain areas of a leather sole without permitting the water to contact or permeate other areas that would be adversely affected thereby.

In the manufacture of womens high-arch shoes to which leather outsoles are to be attached with p-yroxylin cement, the following stock-fitting operations are among those necessary to condition the outsoles prior to laying them. The cement must be applied to the soles and permitted to harden before any moisture is applied to temper them, since the presenceof moisture when the cement is applied would seriously impair the strength of the bond of adhesion between the cement and the soles. The ball portions of the soles should be flexed and their grain surfaces stretched before the soles are laid, to render them readily conformable to the shoe-bottoms, but if such flexing is done by bending them while dry it tears or ruptures their grain surfaces. Moreover, the shank-portions should be tempered to render them readily conformable to the curvatures of the shoe-bottoms, but no moisture should be applied to the breast-flaps, since it would adversely affect the cement by which they are to be stuck to the heels.

From the foregoing explanation it may be seen that the flexing conditions, the cementing conditions and the tempering conditions are in conflict, one with another, to the detriment of production if not also of the products.

In view of the conflicting problems set forth above, an object of the present invention is to provide improved methods of treating unattached leather soles whereby objectionable operating conditions may be overcome and objectionable results avoided. Another object is to provide improvements in sole-tempering .apparatus and soleflexing apparatus, to the end that time and efiort may be saved in practicing the improved methods above mentioned and a better quality of work obtained.

5 One aspect of the improved method with which the present invention is concerned consists in forming a localized bend of short radius in an intermediate portion of a sole, for example the ball portion, and at the same time immersing another portion, for example the shank portion,

in a tempering liquid without immersing the portion first specified.

Preferably, and as herein illustrated, the improved method also includes additional treatment, for example applying a small quantity of tempering liquid exclusively to a limited area of one face of the sole, such as the grain surface of the forepart, before forming the localized bend in the ball portion thereof, and maintaining the heelend and the breast-flap, if any, out of the liquid in which the shank portion is immersed while the ball portion is in process of being bent.

The illustrated apparatus, designed to expedite the conditioning treatment above described, is provided, among other things, with a receptacle for maintaining a body of tempering liquid, and mechanism arranged to bend the ball portion of a sole and at the same time immerse the shank portion thereof in the body of liquid without immersing the ball portion. Moreover, an element of the bending mechanism is arranged to transfer a small quantity of the liquid from the immersion receptacle and spread it on a limited area of one face of the sole prior to, and again simultaneously with, the bending operation by which that face is stretched. The apparatus is so organized that the act of placing a sole in operative position is sufficient to effect the first application of liquid to the limited area specified, Whereas the subsequent operating movement of the bending mechanism causes the liquid-applying element thereof to spread a small additional quantity of the liquid on that area of the sole with which it has progressive contact while performing its bending function.

Thus, if the grain surface of a sole be placed in contact with the element above mentioned it will receive enough liquid to guard against its being torn or ruptured in consequence of being stretched incidentally to being bent.

Referring to the drawings,

Fig. l is a vertical section in a plane from front to rear of a combined tempering and flexing apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a top-plan view of an apparatus comprising two tempering and flexing units;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation, partly in section, of the structure represented in Fig. 2, the plane of the section being indicated by line III-I1I in Fig. 2; 1

Fig. 4. is a bottom view of a typical leather outsole of the type for which treatment according to the present invention is intended; and

Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the lower part of the frame, and includes a treadle for operating the mechanism shown in Fig. 1.

Although an apparatus embodying the present invention may comprise any desired number of tempering and flexing units, the drawings illustrate an organization in which two such units are arranged side by side, one for right soles and the other for left soles. Each unit comprises a shallow receptacle iii adapted to contain a body of tempering liquid, such as water. These receptacles lie in a horizontal shallow tray or basin H to which they are secured by screws I2. Sheets it of gasket material, such as cork or rubber, are interposed between the basin ii and the receptacles lb to insure liquid-tight joints of the. conduits through which liquid is supplied to the receptacles. The basin H is mounted on a supporting frame it to which it is secured by bolts [5.

A barometric feeder it represented in dotted lines in Fig. 3, supplies tempering liquid automatically to both receptacles [0 or to as many receptacles as the apparatus may include. This feeder comprises a container having no opening except that afforded by a tubular spout IT. The basin I! is provided with an upright boss l8 counterbored to receive the nozzle El and to support the container it in the operative position. A vertical duct 19 in the boss is conducts the discharged liquid to a hozizontal duct 20 extending through the bottom wall of the basin H and communicating with distributing ports 2!, one under each receptacle Ill. The liquid rises through these ports, through holes in the sheets r I3 and through supply ports 22 in the bottom walls of the receptacles ill. Although the spout ll fits the counterbore in the boss 18 closely enough to maintain the container It in an upright position the connection is not air-tight. Consequently, the container may discharge liquid and receive air through the counterbore until the liquid in the duct l9 rises to the level of the lower end of the spout, whereupon the spout will be sealed by liquid and the supply of liquid in the receptacles [El will be automatically maintained at that level, which is indicated by a broken line in Fig.- 3.

Each tempering and flexing unit is provided with individually operable flexing means comprising a cylindrical matrix 25 and a freely rotatable bending roll it. The matrix is preferably a tube loosely arranged on a horizontal rock-shaft 2'! extending across the receptacle and journaled in bearings 23 projecting upwardly therefrom. The matrix and the bending roll 26 both lie between a pair. of arms 29 pinned or otherwise affixed to the rock-shaft to carry the ends of a rod 38 on which the roll 2% is rotatably mounted. When this roll is in its normal or initial position as represented in the left-hand unit in Fig. 3 and in solid lines in Fig. 1, a considerable portion thereof is immersed in the body of tempering liquid in the receptacle, but the space between the roll and the matrix is well above the liquid.

When the rock-shaft 21 is operated as hereinafter described it carries the roll 26 in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 1) about the axis of the matrix through an arc of about to a point where the roll will be above the matrix 25. This movement of the roll 25 is utilized to form a localized bend of short radius in the ball portion of a sole, to stretch the grain surface thereof, to transfer additional tempering liquid from the receptacle to the surface so stretched, and to depress the shank portion into the body of free tempering liquid in the receptacle.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, torsion springs 39 surround the rock-shafts. One end of each spring is inserted into a small hole in the adjacent bearing 28 to provide anchorage, while the other end is inserted into a corresponding hole in a spool 3i afiixed to the rock-shaft. The spool is so adjusted with respect to the rock-shaft as to return the roll 26 to its initial position in the liquid whenever the roll is not restrained in some other position. One end of a flexible cable or cord 32 is secured to the spool 3! by a screw 33 (Fig. l), the cord being wound around (the spool and extending downwardly therefrom through a boss 34 in the basin 5 l and thence to an operating lever or treadle 35 (Fig. 5) near the bottom of the frame it to which it is connected by a fulcrum pin 36. A torsion spring 3? normally raises the treadle 35 against a stop a l, to the end that a relatively light spring 39 will suffice to return the bending roll 26 to its initial position.

When the treadle 35 is depressed a pin or boss 38 projecting laterally therefrom displaces a latch 39 and is caught thereby to prevent the parts from returning to their initial positions until intentionally released. The latch is mounted upon a pivot-pin it and is normally maintained in its latching position by a torsion spring ii. The latch is also provided with an adjusting screw M by which it may be regulated to cooperate with the boss 38. When the boss 38 is caught by the latch 352 the latter projects far enough above the treadle to be pushed back by the toe of the operators shoe while the ballportion thereof rests on the tread-plate 43 of the treadle. Consequently, to release the treadle the operators foot must be in a position to bear on the tread-plate 43 and thus control the return of the treadle to its initial position.

To accomplish the desired results with the illustrated apparatus the operator will insert a sole 39, grain side down and toe foremost, between the matrix 25 and the bending roll 26 as shown in section in Fig. l. The matrix and the roll are spaced apart only far enough to admit a sole of maximum thickness. When the roll 25 is in its initial position its highest point is Virtually tangent to the horizontal plane of the rim of the receptacle. Consequently, the roll will guide the toe end of the sole so that it will pass over and beyond the rear wall of the rim and finally abut against an adjustable stop or gage 45 arranged on a supporting rod it. The gage is provided with a thumb-screw M by which it may be secured at any desired position on the rod. If desired, the rod may be provided with a scale 13 indicative of various sizes. The gage 55 is intended to be located at a point where it will arrest the sole when the ball portion thereof is between the roll 26 and the matrix 25.

The front wall of the receptacle it is preferably dove-tailed (see Figs. 2 and 3) to receive opposite edges of a horizontally adjustable work-supporting plate 56 on which the heel-end of a sole may lie, as shown in Fig. l. The rear edge of this plate may project more or less over the body of liquid in the receptacle according to the lengthof the sole presented for treatment, the purpose of the plate being to prevent the heel-end of the sole from entering the liquid. As shown in Fig. 2, two kerfs 5i are formed in each plate near its side edges, one extending from the front edge nearly to therear and the other extending from the rear edge nearly to the front. The resilience thus aiforded enables the plate to fit snugly in the dove-tail formations and at the same time to be capable of adjusting movement to the front and rear.

When a sole is inserted for treatment as above described the grain surface of its forepart will run on the bending roll 26, and since this roll is freely rotatable it will be rotated by 'the movement of the sole and will therefore transfer tempering liquid by surface tension from the receptacle and spread such liquid in a thin film on that surface of the forepart. The area thus moistened is indicated in Fig. 4 as area A. Although the quantity of liquid thus 4 applied to the sole is small, it is sufiicient to temper the grain surface to a slight depth.

The operator will next depress the treadle until it is caught by the latch 39. The operation of the treadle carries the bending roll 26 through an arc of about around the matrix 25 and the roll is thus caused to raise the toeend of the sole and carry it over the matrix and toward the heel-end or to the position represented in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The ball portion of the sole is thus folded over or bent crosswise around the matrix 25 which need not turn with the rock-shaft on which it is mounted. Moreover, as the roll 26 moves to its upper position it has rolling contact with the grain surface of the sole and thereby spreads a small additional quantity of liquid on that surface as the stretching thereof progresses. Since the diameter of the matrix 25 is small and since the ball portion of the sole is conformed to its periphery a bend of short radius will be formed in that portion and the grain surface thereof will be stretched while in temper.

Since the heel portion of the sole remains supported above the body of liquid by the plate 50 the bending of the ball portion will form a sagging bend of long radius in the shank portion and thereby depress the shank portion into the body of liquid where it will remain immersed so long as the treadle remains depressed.

The operator may leave the sole in this condition, as represented in dotted lines in Fig. 1, while removing a treated sole from another treating unit and while operating the latter to subject a fresh sole to similar treatment.

Referring to Fig. 4., the area B of the sole is the area bent or folded by the roll 26 and the matrix 25, and the area C is the area immersed in the body of liquid while the area B is bent.

The basin II is formed to collect tempering liquid that may overflow the receptacles II] or that may be splashed incidentally to treatment or handling of the soles. If any considerable quantity of liquid accumulates in the basin II it my flow out through a drain pipe 52.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. That improvement in methods of conditioning unattached leather soles, which consists in forming a localized bend of short radius in an intermediate portion of a sole, and at the same time immersing another portion thereof in a tempering liquid without immersing the portion first specified.

2. That improvement in methods of conditioning unattached leather soles, which consists in forming a localized bend of short radius in an intermediate portion of a sole, and at the same time immersing another intermediate portion thereof in a tempering liquid without immersing the portion first specified or either end of the sole.

3. That improvement in methods of conditioning unattached leather soles, which consists in forming and maintaining a localized bend of short radius exclusively in one intermediate portion of a sole, and at the same time maintaining another intermediate portion thereof in a tempering liquid without immersing the portion first specified.

4. That improvement in methods of conditioning unattached leather soles, which consists in applying a tempering liquid exclusively to a limited area of one face of a sole, forming a localized bend of short radius in the portion so treated, and immersing another portion of the sole in tempering liquid while said bend is under control of the bending force.

5. That improvement in methods of conditioning unattached leather soles, which consists in folding the forepart of a sole toward the heel end thereof to form a localized bend of short radius in the ball portion and thereby forming a sagging bend of long radius in the shank portion of the sole, and immersing the shank portion only in a tempering liquid while the sole is under the control of the bending force.

6. That improvement in methods of conditioning unattached leather soles, which consists in folding the forepart of a sole toward the heel end thereof to form a localized bend of short radius in the ball portion and thereby depressing the shank portion of the sole into a tempering liquid below the level of every other portion of the sole.

7. That improvement in methods of conditioning unattached leather soles, which consists in applying a tempering liquid exclusively to less than the entire area of the under face of a sole but to the entire forepart area of said face, and depressing the shank portion of the sole into a body of free tempering liquid below the level of every other portion of the sole.

8. That improvement in methods of conditioning unattached leather soles, which consists in applying a tempering liquid exclusively to less than the entire area of the under face of a sole but to the entire forepart area of said face, bending the sole to raise both ends, and thereby immersing the shank portion in a tempering liquid.

9. That improvement in methods of conditioning unattached leather soles, which consists in laying the forepart area of the under face of a sole in contact with a thin film of tempering liquid, bending the sole to raise both ends thereof and thereby depressing the shank portion into a body of free tempering liquid.

10. That improvement in methods of conditioning unattached leather soles, which consists in supporting the heel end and the ball portion of a virtually fiat sole overlying a body of tempering liquid, bending the ball portion crosswise to stretch its under face and thereby immersing the shank portion of the sole in said body of liquid.

11. A conditioning apparatus comprising a receptacle for maintaining a body of tempering liquid, and mechanism arranged to bend the ball portion of a sole and at the same time immerse the shank portion thereof in said liquid without immersing the ball portion.

12. A conditioning apparatus comprising a receptacle for maintaining a body of tempering liquid, and sole-bending mechanism including a member arranged to transfer tempering liquid from said body to one face of a sole, said mechanism being constructed and arranged to bend a portion of the sole outside said body of liquid and thereby immerse another portion of the sole in said body of liquid.

13. A conditioning apparatus comprising a receptacle for maintaining a body of tempering liquid, and sole-bending mechanism including a member operable by movement of a sole to an operating station to transfer tempering liquid from said body to the under face of the sole, said member being otherwise operable to bend a portion of the sole away from said body of liquid and thereby immerse another portion of the sole in said body.

A. A conditioning apparatus comprising a receptacle for maintaining a body of tempering liquid, and sole-bending mechanism including a member operable by movement of a sole to an operating station. to transfer tempering liquid from said body to the under face of the sole, said member being bodily movable in a curved path to bend a portion of the sole away from said body of liquid and at the same time to transfer more liquid to the outcurved surface of said portion.

15. A conditioning apparatus comprising a receptacle for maintaining a body of tempering liquid, and sole-bending mechanism including a freely rotatable roll arranged initially to transfer tempering liquid by surface tension from said body to the under face of a sole moving on its upper segment, said roll being bodily movable about any axis other than its own to bend a portion of the sole away from said body of liquid and to transfer more liquid by surface tension to the outcurved surface of said portion.

16. A conditioning apparatus comprising a receptacle for maintaining a body of tempering liquid, a matrix arranged thereover, a freely rotatable roll arranged initially to support a sole between said matrix and said body of liquid and to transfer liquid by surface tension from said body to the under face of the sole in consequence of moving the sole on it, and mechanism arranged to carry said roll bodily in a curved path about said matrix to bend the sole thereover.

17. A conditioning apparatus comprising a receptacle for maintaining a body of tempering liquid, spaced means arranged to maintain the ends of a sole above the level of said body of liquid while the shank and ball portions bridge the space directly above the liquid, a mandrel arranged to overlie the ball portion of the sole, and sole-bending mechanism including a freely rotatable roll movable bodily about said mandrel to bend the ball portion of the sole upwardly and thereby depress the shank portion into said body of liquid, said roll being arranged initially to contact said liquid.

18. A conditioning apparatus comprising a receptacle for maintaining a body of tempering liquid, sole-bending mechanism arranged above said body of liquid, and means arranged to maintain the heel end of a sole above said liquid, said mechanism being arranged to fold the forepart of the sole upwardly and toward the heel end thereof and thereby bow the shank portion downwardly into said body of liquid.

19. A conditioning apparatus comprising solebending mechanism and a sole-supporting platform spaced apart and arranged to support a flat sole in a virtually level position, the bending mechanism being arranged to engage the forepart of the sole while the heel end thereof lies on said platform and to fold the forepart upwardly and toward the platform to bend the ball portion of the sole, means arranged to maintain a body of tempering liquid in position to receive the shank portion of the sole when the latter is bowed downwardly by bending the ball portion as aforesaid, a manually operable member for operating said bending mechanism, and a detent arranged to maintain the bending mechanism in its sole-bending and shank-tempering position.

20. A conditioning apparatus comprising means for supporting the heel ends of a series of separate soles in a common horizontal plane, a series of sole-bending units arranged in a common hori- Zontal plane to operate respectively on the foreparts of soles stationed on said supporting means, individually operable members for operating said units respectively to fold the foreparts of the soles upwardly and toward said supporting means and thereby bend the ball portions of the soles, individually operable detents for maintaining said units in their respective sole-bending positions, and means arranged to maintain a tempering liquid at a constant level under and adjacent to the shank portions of the soles stationed as aforesaid, whereby the shank portions may be immersed in such liquid in consequence of being bowed downwardly by the bending effect of said units.

PAUL H. DIXON. 

